Five benefits of making time to play

Making time to play for adults, what it means and why it’s so important!

Whether you are looking for a tool to help with stress management, want to banish negative thoughts, dealing with anxiety, or feeling burnt out, getting into the mindset of play can improve your motivation and mental wellbeing.

You can’t change the past, but you can work towards a healthier future by taking care of yourself. One of the most surprising routes to better self-care is making time to play. Yes, play time is important at any age. We don’t necessarily mean it’s time to get the Lego bricks out, it’s more about adopting the right attitude and being opened to play. So, let’s start by defining what we mean by making time to play.

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Definition of play

Playtime is widely associated with children, it’s crucial to their emotional, social and physical development. It helps forge friendships and encourages creativity and problem solving. However, play is not exclusive to children.

If we look closer at the definition of playtime, it isn’t just the action of playing or the behaviour displayed. The definition should be widened to include motivation and mental attitude that people bring to play. It is motivation and positive attitude that are at the heart of Johaloha’s positive psychology, understanding what makes us feel good about ourselves, happy, and how to live meaningful lives.

Why don’t most adults play anymore?

It is a sad fact that most of us have forgotten or lost the ability to play when we reach adulthood. As soon as we reach puberty and become interested in sex, playtime is no longer on our radar. In other words, we want to feel grown up and don’t want to appear childish.

We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing. George Bernard Shaw

What research says about the importance of making time to play

An article published in the American Journal of Play (2011) reports that children’s opportunities to play have declined, resulting in higher levels of anxiety and depression. Experts suggest that when these children grow into adults, the mental damage caused by lack of playtime can cause serious levels of unhappiness in later life.

The fast pace of modern life continues to erode the opportunities for both children and adults to play with the obvious causal effect on our mental health and wellbeing.

Is it possible to create time to play as a routine…at any age?

There is no reason to stop including ‘playtime’ in your routine just because you have passed puberty. There are many benefits to prioritizing time for play and relaxation. What you do during your ‘play time’ depends on your interests and personality.

You may have a hobby that you enjoyed when you were younger that you had forgotten about. Maybe you enjoy playing games, spending more time with nature, doing something creative with your hands or trying something new. To get started, maybe you need to try different things to find out what suits you and what will be fun for you to do.

How much play time do adults need to learn the true meaning of joy, wellbeing and happiness?

Start by doing activities that are easy for you. Maybe play a game (patience, sudoku, puzzle), dance to a favourite song for 5 minutes every day. It depends on how much time you have and how much you already devote to play.

The more you play, the more you notice how good it is for you. It makes you want to play more often.

How much time depends on your needs. Try to find out what suits you. By doing things you enjoy, you take a step towards better self-care and a happier and healthier life.

Five benefits of making time to play!

There are many benefits of play, here are five:

1. Reduce stress

   A recent study by Lynn Barnett found that adults who play can actually reduce stress. They have the same stressors, but they react differently, allowing them to deal with setbacks and disappointments better.

   To enjoy the benefits of play, find activities that you like, and make time to do it. Start with five minutes each day with things that will make you smile or feel good.

2. Healthy development & personal growth

   We touched upon this earlier, play is essential for children’s mental, physical and social development. The same is true as an adult. For example, if you want to try paddle or drawing just for the fun, the repetition will help you improve. Resulting in emotional and physical growth, and when you choose something you enjoy, you’ll have all the benefits of play.

3.  Relaxing

   Having fun makes you relax from everyday life. When you play, you are the moment. By dedicating 100% of your attention to the activity, it makes you relax. If you have a time limit, set the alarm to the time you can devote to the game, and you can then devote to the game until the alarm rings. It makes you feel happier and more energetic. The more energy you have, the better you feel about yourself.

4. Creativity

   We’ve already mentioned how playing is essential for a child’s development, and for adults to relax and enjoy. Anything from playing boardgames and puzzles to writing or painting can stretch your imagination and flex your creative muscles.

5. Make connections

   When you participate in sports, join a club, a course or activity, you are connecting with like-minded people. One of the unfortunate realities of becoming an adult is that the opportunities for meeting new people diminish, but this is one way to expand your group of friends. Go on, there are a whole world of people waiting to meet you.

Conclusion

Understanding how important it is to play as an adult is the first step. The second step is to make time to include it in our lives. The more you are making time to play, the more you realize how positive and energizing it is for you.

By Ulla Lilliehöök
Trainer and Personal Growth Coach

JOHALOHA

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